03/18/98 - 1703

Hare Krishna Toronto Update

Canada (VNN) - by Hastigopala Dasa

Please accept my humble obeisances all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

March the 8th was cold with high winds and lots of rain when we held our first meeting at the VEDA centre here in Toronto, Canada. It was unfortunate for those who missed the gathering as Srila Prabhupada was there to give the lecture. We had a half hour kirtan led by Krishna Dasa, then Tulasi prayers and the lecture. The lecture was preceded by a reading from the Final Order of THE JULY 9th LETTER FROM 1977. Chanting loudly and accompanied by the devotees Srila Prabhupada sang Jaya Radha Madava, it was wonderful! Prabhupada's lecture was on the Yoga System and resounded throughout Kala Dasa and Yasodamatis VEDA CENTRE.

After the lecture we "ALL" took Ekadasi prasadam in the dining area and watched a slide show of last year's Toronto Rathayatra. To finish up the evening we read from Srila Prabhupada's "origional" hard bound KRSNA book . If you're ever in Toronto and want to experience first class "Srila Prabhupada" prasadam check out the VEDA CENTRE at 905 Queen St. West here in Toronto. By the way the names of their lordships at the centre are Sri Sri Radha Rasabehari and are exeptionally glorious to behold.

In the near future we will be updating and republishing an earlier article entitled "Mayas Grand Illusion ", watch for it. Regarding "book collection", here is a list of Prabhupadas books that to date we have purchased from Torontos used book stores, and I might add that we have not started our advertising in local papers nor have the phone calls to these stores started yet; 3 hard cover 1979 path of perfection, 2 Isopanisad 1972, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, soft cover, hard cover Science of Self Realisation,1977, 9 Srimad Bhagawatams, 10 canto part 3 1980, four 2nd Canto part one, 1978, 0ne of the 2nd cantos is part 3, 0ne 7th canto part 3 1976, one 1st canto part 3 1978, one 2nd canto part one with cover MINT CONDITION! 1972, one C.C.Adi Lila vol 1 mint,first printing 1975, one large hardbound KRSNA BOOK with cover 1974 mint, for a cost of 3$and 98 cents! SMALL BOOKS >>>> 5 Perfetion of Yoga, Topmost Yoga System, Bryond Birth and death, 2 Easy Journey To Other Planets,1 Life comes From Life, 2 Comming Back, 2 Search For Liberation, on the way to Krishna, and 1 Chant and be Happy. Whew! so you can see the possibilities. Over the years from 1970 until 1982 10's of thousands of Prabhupadas books were distributed here in Toronto.

At present we are organising a weekly Bhagavad Gita class to be held on a week day. A recomended Gita Study Guide has been located and a number of them will be purchased to aid the students in studying this classic in its origional. Also up and coming is a reprint of the origional Gita from which the students will be able to copy sections for home study at the same time there will be a complete study of The Final Order, and of the booklet ISKCONS CHANGES TO SRILA PRABHUPADAS BHAGAVAD GITA.

This of course will take a few months to organise. Advertising at local colleges and the University of Toronto as well as local small news papers is essential. The VEDA centre here in Toronto is open to letting us rent space at their place. We would like to teach and preach this programme for no cost admission only the cost of copies and booklets.We'll keep you posted. As far as our monthly programe the emphasis for now will be on Prasadam disribution and Hari Nam kirtan.The next gathering will be in late April. In Toronto we are very excited to hear how the Prabhupada devotees in Monteal are organising to get a new location where they can push on the REAL ISKCON.

Of course any help we can give them we will. Actually we have been offered the use of one facility here in Toronto by a devotee who is helping greatly the Hare Krishna Montreal centre.That place may be available for our once a month Hari Nam and Prasadam distribution. Actually the fast moving and expanding REAL ISKCON has now become HARE KRISHNA INTERNATIONAL, a conglomerate of very active vaisnavas who are moving ahead of their MAYA counterpart MISCON, or Mayas International Society For Collectivism, Oppresion and Nescience. From the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Mad.Ch.1text 218, A mundane person in the dress of a Vaisnava should not be respectedbut rejected.

This is enjoined in the sastras (upeksa) The word upeksa means neglect. One should neglect an envious person. A preachers duty is to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, make friendships with Vaisnavas, show mercy to the innocent and REJECT OR NEGLECT those who are envious or jealous.There are many jealous people in the dress of Vaisnavas in this Krsna Councious Movement, AND THEY SHOULD BE COMPLETELY NEGLECTED. There is no need to serve a jealous person who is in dress of a Vaisnava. When Naratama dasa Thakura saya chadiya vaisnava seva nistara peche keba, he is indicating an actual Vaisnava, not an envious or jealous person in the dress of a Vaisnava'

Your eternal servant and supporter of HARE KRSNA INTERNATIONAL and the REAL ISKCON.